Canadiens' Michael Pezzetta: Inks two-year extension
Rotowire
Pezzetta signed a two-year, $1.625 million extension with the Canadiens on Friday, Sportsnet reports.
Pezzetta drew into 63 games with Montreal in 2022-23, picking up seven goals and 15 points while averaging 9:19 of ice time. The 25-year-old forward should continue to post similar numbers while skating in a bottom-six role over the next two campaigns.
... See More... See Less
Canadiens' Michael Pezzetta: Two points in loss
Rotowire
Pezzetta had a goal and an assist in a 5-4 loss to Boston on Thursday.
The points snapped a 12-game drought. Pezzetta is an energy guy, so points aren't a regular occurrence. He finished the season with seven goals and 15 points in 63 games.
... See More... See Less
Canadiens' Michael Pezzetta: Pops shootout winner
Rotowire
Pezzetta scored the game-winning shootout goal in Monday's 4-3 win over the Sabres.
Pezzetta's not the top pick on anyone's shootout list, but he slipped the puck past Eric Comrie in the sixth round to give Montreal the extra point. The marker was also notable for his throwback celebration to Tiger Williams. Pezzetta technically extended his scoring drought to five contests, given that shootout goals don't count towards a player's point total.
... See More... See Less
Canadiens' Michael Pezzetta: Works hard for goal
Rotowire
Pezzetta scored a goal on three shots in Thursday's 9-5 loss to the Panthers. He added six hits and one blocked shot to his line over 10:36 of ice time.
It was goal befitting Pezzetta's style. He laid out on the ice to keep the puck in Florida's end, then was back on his skates when Anthony Richard's shot was deflected, and he managed to redirect with the shaft of his stick. The goal was his sixth, establishing a new career high for the fourth-line forward who has 13 points over 50 games.
... See More... See Less
Canadiens' Michael Pezzetta: Two-pointer in loss
Rotowire
Pezzetta scored a goal on two shots and assisted on another in Tuesday's 4-3 shootout loss to the Hurricanes. He also had four hits over 8:28 of ice time.
It was a big night for Montreal's fourth line, which scored two of the team's three goals. Pezzetta picked up an assist on a tally by Alex Belzile, who was in the right spot after a rebound. Pezzetta later crashed the net and finished a nice feed from Chris Tierney. The two-point night was the third of the season for Pezzetta, who has a career-high 12 points through 45 games.
... See More... See Less
Canadiens' Michael Pezzetta: Manages helper Sunday
Rotowire
Pezzetta posted an assist, four hits and two PIM in Sunday's 4-3 loss to the Golden Knights.
Pezzetta has two helpers over his last eight games, but he hasn't scored a goal in that span. The 24-year-old has been a fixture in the Canadiens' lineup on the fourth line, a role that doesn't lend itself to much fantasy relevance. He's collected 10 points, 157 hits, 48 PIM, 47 shots on net and a minus-1 rating through 44 contests overall.
... See More... See Less
Canadiens' Michael Pezzetta: Big effort for assist
Rotowire
Pezzetta recorded an assist, one shot on goal, six hits and one blocked shot over 13:56 of ice time in Friday's 5-2 win over Philadelphia.
Pezzetta made the hustle play of the night. He beat Flyer defenders to negate a potential icing then, while falling down behind the net, backhanded a feed to Chris Tierney for a late first-period goal. The points are rare for the fourth-line forward but not the hits. Pezzetta, who's recorded 73 hits over the last 15 games, is second on the club with 143 thumps while averaging 9:00 TOI over 39 contests. On a hits-per-game basis, Pezzetta ranks sixth in the NHL with 3.66.
... See More... See Less
Canadiens' Michael Pezzetta: Starts scoring in loss
Rotowire
Pezzetta scored a goal on three shots in Thursday's 6-2 loss to Carolina. He added seven hits and four penalty minutes over 10:25 of ice time.
Pezzetta's first shot was stopped by Antti Raanta, but he was able to bat the puck in midair past the goalie to open the scoring. The fourth-line forward is known more for his aggressive style but has shown an offensive side of late. Pezzetta has five points (two goals) in the last nine games, during which he's delivered 46 hits.
... See More... See Less
Canadiens' Michael Pezzetta: Bags assist in win
Rotowire
Pezzetta had an assist and four hits over 7:59 of ice time in Sunday's 6-2 win over Edmonton.
The fourth line got Montreal on the board when Pezzetta and Jesse Ylonen set up Alex Belzile midway through the first period. The fourth line started making noise on offense just prior to the midseason break, and it continued Sunday. Pezzetta has four points over his last seven games, while Belzile has five in six contests. Their former linemate, Rafael Harvey-Pinard, who had six points in five games before the break, has since been elevated to the top line.
... See More... See Less
Canadiens' Michael Pezzetta: Two-point night
Rotowire
Pezzetta had a goal and an assist in Thursday's 4-3 overtime loss to Detroit. He also had two shots on net, eight hits and blocked one shot over 13:43 of ice time.
Pezzetta took advantage of a carom off teammate Rafael Harvey-Pinard's skate to backhanded the puck for Montreal's first goal. He later returned the favor by setting up Harvey-Pinard's game-tying goal late in the second period. Multi-point nights are rare for the fourth-line forward, who has two two-pointers over 30 games.
... See More... See Less
Canadiens' Michael Pezzetta: Helps on game-tying goal
Rotowire
Pezzetta had an assist, six hits and one blocked shot over 11:05 of ice time in Saturday's 3-2 overtime win over the Maple Leafs.
Pezzetta had the primary assist on Rafael Harvey-Pinard's second-period tally to tie the game at two goals apiece. It was an assist emblematic of the hard-working forward, who dived at a loose puck in front of the goal and was still prone on the ice when Harvey-Pinard scored. Offense is not his forte, but Pezzetta averages 3.3 hits per game. The 24-year-old forward has dressed in four straight games as the Canadiens deal with numerous injuries at forward, and he's dished out 23 hits over that span.
... See More... See Less
Canadiens' Michael Pezzetta: Dishes the hits
Rotowire
Pezzetta had one shot on goal, 11 hits and one blocked shot over 13:05 of ice time in Tuesday's 4-1 win over Winnipeg.
Pezzetta moved to the third line after the Canadiens placed three forwards on injured reserve and scratched another. The 24-year-old grinder could be in line for added TOI while head coach Martin St. Louis navigates the injuries, which would give fantasy managers a boost in hits. Pezzetta ranks second on the team with 83 hits over 26 games while averaging a little more than eight minutes per contest.
... See More... See Less
Canadiens' Michael Pezzetta: Gets first two-point game
Rotowire
Pezzetta scored a goal and drew an assist during Friday's 4-2 loss to the host Stars.
Pezzetta started his career effort by earning the primary helper on Jake Evans' first-period, power-play marker and then added a second-period goal off an odd-man breakaway. Pointless since he scored against the Canucks on Dec. 5, the 24-year-old left winger secured his first career power-play point and multi-point outing, adding two shots, four hits and two PIM. Beginning Friday on the third line, Pezzetta previously posted an assist during each of the final three games last season (April 24-29).
... See More... See Less
Canadiens' Michael Pezzetta: Gets first goal of season
Rotowire
Pezzetta scored a goal on two shots and added three hits in Monday's 7-6 overtime loss to the Canucks.
Pezzetta tallied the fourth of the Canadiens' first-period tallies. That looked like it might be enough initially, as the Canucks swapped out Spencer Martin for Collin Delia in goal before going on an impressive comeback rally. Pezzetta's goal was his first point in 12 games this year. He's added 16 shots, 31 hits and a minus-2 rating in a fourth-line role. As long as the Canadiens' forward group is dealing with a handful of injuries, Pezzetta should have a steady spot in the lineup.
... See More... See Less
Canadiens' Michael Pezzetta: Could fill in for Anderson
Rotowire
Pezzetta is a candidate to replace Josh Anderson (suspension) in the active lineup for Tuesday's game against the Red Wings, Stu Cowan of the Montreal Gazette reports.
Pezzetta and Evgenii Dadonov (undisclosed) rotated in on the second line during Monday's practice. He's been a healthy scratch in all but one game thus far. As described by head coach Martin St. Louis, Pezzetta is a "culture guy," which means he brings energy and enthusiasm to the ice but not much offense.
... See More... See Less
Canadiens' Michael Pezzetta: Pens deal Monday
Rotowire
Pezzetta signed a one-year, one-way deal with the Canadiens on Monday worth $750,000.
Pezzetta made his NHL debut in his age-24 season last year, chipping in 11 points and 156 hits over 51 games with the Canadiens. He also led the team with 81 PIM and owns 25 career AHL points over 115 games with Laval since 2018-19. Because of Pezzetta's lack of scoring prowess, he doesn't figure to deliver much fantasy punch, though his physicality could make him a decent DFS play in certain spots next season.
... See More... See Less
Canadiens' Michael Pezzetta: Handed two-game ban
Rotowire
Pezzetta was suspended for two games on Monday by the Department of Player Safety for an illegal check to the head on Washington's T.J. Oshie.
Pezzetta has been periodically serving as a healthy scratch of late, so his suspension may not even impact the team's planned lineup against Minnesota and Philadelphia on Tuesday and Thursday, respectively. With Pezzetta ineligible, Paul Byron will step back into the lineup after sitting out against the Capitals on Saturday.
... See More... See Less
Canadiens' Michael Pezzetta: Will have hearing Monday
Rotowire
Pezzetta, per the official Twitter account for the NHL Department of Player Safety, "will have a hearing (Monday) for an illegal check to the head on Washington's T.J. Oshie."
Pezzetta will be forced to meet with the league after a high elbow to Oshie in the third period of Saturday's loss to the Capitals. He was given a minor penalty on the play but could face additional punishment if the Department of Player Safety sees fit.
... See More... See Less
Canadiens' Michael Pezzetta: Back at it
Rotowire
Pezzetta (upper body) will draw back into the lineup for Saturday's game versus Toronto, Eric Engels of Sportsnet.ca reports.
Pezzetta will presumably draw into a fourth-line role following his six-game absence. He's collected eight points while averaging 7:45 of ice time through 44 contests this campaign.
... See More... See Less
Canadiens' Michael Pezzetta: Not ready to return
Rotowire
Pezzetta (upper body) won't play Saturday versus the Lightning, Patrick Friolet of RDS reports.
Pezzetta will miss his fourth straight game with the injury, and there's been no specific information regarding his timeline to return. The 24-year-old is likely to be out indefinitely until the Canadiens provide an update on his status.
